Posted on 10/25/2005 3:20:57 PM PDT by Hadean
WASHINGTON, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Crossing the threshold of 2,000 American military deaths in Iraq on Tuesday added to the pressure on President George W. Bush to show progress in Iraq amid waning public support for the war.
Bush launched the Iraq war in 2003 hoping for a quick victory with minimal casualties. The Iraqi army was quickly defeated and, when confronted by early attacks by militants, Bush was initially defiant, declaring: "Bring 'em on!"
But within months the attacks grew in intensity, bogging down the U.S. force of more than 100,000 troops, aircraft and armor and delaying plans for rapid reconstruction of the shattered country.
The 2,000 threshold of American miliary deaths was a grim sign that despite some progress on the political front, much work lies ahead in halting insurgent attacks and stopping the flow into Iraq of foreign fighters from around the region, including Syria.
No change in strategy appeared likely as a result of the new death toll, and Bush said the best way to honor the fallen was to "complete the mission and lay the foundation of peace by spreading freedom."
"This war will require more sacrifice, more time and more resolve," he told military wives earlier on Tuesday. "The terrorists are as brutal an enemy as we have ever faced."
Bush was already in political trouble over Iraq, the slow federal response to Hurricane Katrina and soaring gasoline prices. These problems and others have pushed his job approval rating to the lowest of his presidency.
A special prosecutor's investigation into the leak of a CIA agent's name, which has its roots in the Iraq war, is shaking the White House. It could seriously trouble Bush's second term if his top political adviser, Karl Rove, is indicted.
The agent's husband, former U.S. diplomat Joe Wilson, had accused the Bush administration of twisting intelligence when officials cited a threat of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction to justify the 2003 invasion. No such weapons have been found.
IRAQIS TO TAKE OVER FIGHT
Bush, who says it is essential to make progress on Iraq's political process to undermine the insurgency, saw some grounds for hope when millions of Iraqis turned out to vote on a new constitution that was ratified on Tuesday.
"Iraqis are making inspiring progress toward building a democracy," Bush said.
Public support for the war has eroded sharply and many Americans want to see U.S. troops brought home, a view dramatized in August by protester Cindy Sheehan in her weeks-long vigil outside the Bush ranch in Texas. Sheehan's son, Casey, was killed in Iraq.
U.S. officials say political progress and the training of Iraqi security forces are prerequisites for a U.S. withdrawal.
"I grieve for every death," Bush said at his ranch on Aug. 11 during Sheehan's protest. "It breaks my heart to think about a family weeping over the loss of a loved one. I understand the anguish that some feel about the death that takes place."
But, he said, "pulling the troops out would send a terrible signal to the enemy."
While U.S. officials cite the growing capabilities of the Iraqi security forces, there are nagging questions about how well prepared they are for combat and how much they have been infiltrated by insurgents.
God Bless our Troops
May the press BURN IN HELL
That would not surprise me one bit. I can almost hear the ravid libs in the media going "YES!!!" When the heard it was at 2,000 now, so they could get on their holier than thou anti-war pedestal. Makes me want to puke. But for brave selfless men and woman like those 2,000, and all the ones still fighting over there, there would BE no media of any sort that didn't just deliver the government dose of what they said was news. That is what the media never has and never will understand. It is their disconnect with reality.
Yes they are. A clear enemy of the United States and true freedom. The media is so socialistic in their stances it's scary.
"May the press BURN IN HELL"
Very well put.
"Certainly we have killed over 100,000 terrorists, and probably more than 10,000 Saddam loyalists....."
I have to ask what you base these numbers on? I've never been into body counts so I never researched it but your numbers seem awfully high. As far as I know, there is no accurate count of how many non-GIs (terrorists + civilians) have been killed in Iraq. So, where are your numbers coming from?
By your numbers we'd have had to kill over 3500 terrorists per month since the start of the war. I don't think that's even close to accurate.
"Well, I base that comment on the recently elected President of Iraq..."
Unfortunately, politicians aren't always the best source of military intelligence. If you check out the link you might find some additional sources to base your opinion on. It's important to know our enemy. The bulk of the Iraqi army disappeared into the population shortly after the invasion and I have to wonder what they're doing now.
how about this...I think I am low too.
When I was in Iraq, I was working for CENTCOM so you saw some things.
There are estimates. Hell we nearly killed 3000 in 4 days around Najaf last August.
Your posts here reminded me that no matter who the jerks are that our troops have killed, I am certain that the idea of killing people is a difficult thing to come to terms with. I am appreciative to all of the people who do the job that I don't think I could do (kill bad guys) in order to protect my kids and our country. My thoughts are with the families of all of our troops today- I am sure this news adds pressure to them as well.
And when you consider there have always been over 160,000 coaition combatants in Iraq since the start of the war, and plenty of AH-64s, and F-15s and F-16s, and at least one carrier air group at all times, that's a lot of firepower. The 3550 per month killed average in the past 31 months, breaks down to about 118 per day. Just the other day, there were over 50 insurgents confirmed killed in one F-15 strike. It was on the radio news even. When you consider all the Air Force and Army air power, and the Army and Marine boots on the ground, I think that 118 or more average per day is very realistic. The terrorists are untrained, unintelligent, brutish people with NO understanding of modern combat tactics and 1930s technology at best. Our guys have the best tech money can buy, and they know how to use it, and are very good at gurilla tactics now. I think that makes a big difference.
It's the four days - 3000 enemy kills periods like that that kick up the average. There are many days I'm sure that it's only a dozen or two per day killed, but when yo have days like that, it really kicks up the average, and there are SO MANY big hits the military carries out that NEVER make the news, and there are LOTS of Rangers and SeALs in Iraq. I have a friend who is a Special Forces helicopter pilot and he relays that they knock the terrorists down left and right in large clusters, but that never makes the news either. Thanks for your continued input. I sure appreciate it! 8)
"Our guys have the best tech money can buy, and they know how to use it, and are very good at gurilla tactics now."
I would never dispute that our military is the the best manned and best equipped, and the most deadly force on the planet. I just disagree with your numbers. I did a bit of research and could find nothing to confirm or dispute your estimate. DOD policy is to not do body counts and they've pretty much stuck with it. I was in Mosul for the first year of the war and there wasn't nearly as much activity there as in other places so my experience there may be coloring my view of the whole country. However, we did read the daily SIGACTS and I don't remember seeing anything that led me to believe we were killing the enemy in such large numbers. Just my view... thanks for the exchange and thanks for your service!
This makes sense! We should have cut and run after Normandy!
OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM MILITARY DEATHS
March 19, 2003 to December 3, 2005
Casulty type
Hostile 1660
Nonhostile 462
Does anyone know what a "nonhostile" death means?
This drumbeat will result in our watching non stop impeachment hearings in 2007 unless we start to mobilize now to ensure the GOP retains control of both the House and Senate in 2006's elections.
We need to identify what House and Senate seats are at risk and defend them with our volunteer time and money.
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